Suspension device for electric lamps



(No Model.)

J. J. RENEHAN. SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR BLBGTRIG LAMPS.

No. 498,570. Patented May 30, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. RENEHAN, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC LAM PS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 498,570, dated May 30,1893.

Application filed September 29, 1892. Serial No. 447,239- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, JAMES J. RENEHAN, of New Britain, in the countyof-Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement inSuspension Devices for Electric Lamps; and I do hereby declare thefollowing, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and theletters of reference marked thereon,to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of thisspecification, and represent, m

Fi ure 1, a view in side elevation of a device constructed in accordancewith my invention, showing the lamp in its raised position by fulllines, and in its lowered position by broken lines; Fig. 2, a brokenview of the outer end of the arm showing the lamp-can rier thereat andtherefore in its normal position; Fig. 3, a detached plan view of thelampcarrier; Fig. 4, a detailed View of the upper end of the mast; Fig.5, a detached-view of the spider applied to the mast-arm.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of suspensiondevices for electric lamps, which comprise a mast, a mast-arm, andrigging therefor, the object being to provide for such a device, asimple, durable, con- Venient and effective rigging, designed withspecial reference to enabling the lamp to be raised and lowered forattention and repair, Without interference with the overheadtrolley-wires of street railway systems, and without being hampered by,or hampering, surface traffic.

A further object of the invention is to improve the mast and mast-arm instability, and convenience of construction.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in the combination with amast and a mast-arm, of rigging therefor, including an endless cable,guides therefor located at the intersection of the mast and arm, and atthe outer end of the arm and the lower end of the mast, and alamp-carrier interposed in the said cable, and constructed and adaptedto ride over the guide, which is thereto ofiset, at the intersection ofthe mast and arm whereby the lamp is caused to substantially follow thesaid mast and arm in being raised and lowered, when it takes an angularpath.

My invention further consists in certain details of construction andcombinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed outin the claims.

The mast A, is provided at a point near its.

upper end, and on the side from which the electric-lamp B, is to besuspended, with a suitable bracket C, which receives the inner end ofthe hollow arm D, the same inclining from its outer end inward, andbeing provided at its said end with a bead or block E, carrying a pulleyF, over which the endless cable G, runs. A similar pulley H, is mountedin the bracket C, to receive the cable as it emerges from the inner endof the arm D, the

pulley H, being therefore located at the juncture of the inner end ofthe arm with the mast. Near the same point also, are located two flyingpulleys I I, mounted in a block J, which is located at the-outer end ofa stem K, the inner end of which is attached to the inner end of themast-arm D. The cable G, also runs over these pulleys. I would have itunderstood, however, that I do not limit myself to employing two pulleysin this place, nor to mounting them or locating them just as shown anddescribed, but they must be located at or near the juncture of the innerend of the mast-arm with the mast. The cable G, also passes over apulley L, which is mounted, as herein shown, in the upper end of acounter-weight M, having at its lower end a chain N, by means of whichit is normally connected with a hook 0, located in the lower end of themast. A small block or bead 0, is applied to the cable in right positionso that when the lamp has passed the flying pulleys in being lowered, itwill engage with the pulley L, and bring the counter-weight into playfor controlling the straight downward movement of the lamp, as will bemore fully described later on. In

this construction the pulley L, does not aling against the oppositefaces thereof. By

oifsctting the arms Q and R, from the bar S, the same is permitted torun over the flyingpulleys I I, without disturbing the lamp, the saidpulleys being, as shown, set at an inclination to both the mast andmast-arm.

The extreme upper end of the mast is furnished with a cap T, firmlysecured in place, I

and provided on top with a transverse eye t, WhlOh receives a cross-armU, adapted in the usual manner for the attachment to it of electricwires. A trussrod V, extends from this cap to the block E, situated atthe outer end of the mast-arm D, whereby the said arm is supported.Another truss-rod W, extends from the cap to the outer end of a brace X,which is secured at its inner end to the mast at a point thereon aboutopposite the attachment thereto of the bracket 0, the said brace X,being slightly inclined from its inner end outward, from the horizontal.A trussrod Y, leads from the outer end of the said brace downward to themast, which is thus stifiened and prevented from bending by theco-operation of the said truss-rods W and Y,

and the brace X, all of which parts are located at a point opposite thearm D, which imposes a strain upon the mast. The mastarm is also bracedby means of three rods connected at their inner ends with the mast, andat their outer ends with a spider Z, secured to the mast-arm aboutmidway of its length, only two of these rods b and 0, being shown, theother rod, which is not visible, corresponding to the rod 0. to thisparticular way of constructing and bracing the mast and mast-arm, as thesame is not essential to the carrying out of my invention, so far as themanipulation of the lamp is concerned.

Under my invention, the lamp takes an angular path moving substantiallyin line with the mast arm and mast, making a sharp 1 change of directionwhen it arrives at or near 2 Thus, to

l and mast-arm, a flying-pulley also located at the point of theirintersection. lower the lamp for trimming it, or for any other attentionthat it may need, the outer portion of the cable is pulled downward,until the lamp -carrier has passed over the fly I ing-pulleys, at whichtime the bead or block E, will have been brought into engagement withthe pulley L, mounted in the counterweight. The chain N, being thendetached from the hook O, the counter-weight is brought into operationfor controlling the descent of the lamp,which comes down into theposition shown by broken lines, while the counterweight ascends close tothe mast, into the position in which it is shown by broken lines.

Ido not, however, limit myself The lamp having been trimmed, orotherwise attended to, the inner portion of the cable is grasped andpulled upon with just enough force to cause the counter-weight todescend, and the lamp to rise until its carrier passes the flyingpulleys. The chain N, is then hooked onto the hook O, and the innerportion of the cable pulled upon, causing the lamp to move outward fromthe flyingpulleys to the outer end of the mast -arm, in a line parallel.therewith. By handling the lamp in this manner, I avoid interferencewith the trolley-wires of street-railway systems, so that traffic is notimpeded at all while it is being attended to, nor is that operationhampered by traffic.

I would have it understood that in carrying out my invention I do notlimit myself to the exact construction herein shown and described, buthold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations therein asfairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. Thus,I wouldhave it understood that I do not limit myself to the use of pulleys forthe endless cable to pass over at the outer end of the mast-arm, at theintersection thereof with the mast, nor at the lower end of t 'he mast,for I might in place thereof, use guides of some other form. I am aware,however, that it is not broadly new to rig a suspension device forelectric lamps so that the lamps will travel in an angular pathfollowing the arm and mast.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters 7 l arm, an endless cable passing over the saidpulleys, and a lamp-carrier interposed in the said cable, and adapted torun over the flying pulley, substantially as set forth.

2. In a suspension device for electric lamps, the combination with amast and mast-arm, of rigging therefor including a pulley at the outerend of the mastrarm, at the lower end of the mast, at the intersectionof the mast or near the intersection of the mast and mastarm, an endlesscable passing over said pulleys, a lamp-carrier inserted into the saidcable, and adapted to run over the said flyingpulley, a counter-weigh=tcarrying the pulley at the lower end of the mast-arm, and adapted to beconnected to and disconnectedfrom the same, and a block or bead attachedto the cable to co-operate with the said counter-weight, substantiallyas set forth.

3. In a suspension device for electric lamps, the combination with amast and a mast-arm, of an endless cable applied thereto, andsubstantially following the lines of the said mast specification in thepresence of two subscriband arm, and a lamp-carrier inserted into theing witnesses. said endless cable and consistingof a straight barvirtually forming'a continuation of the v JAMES RENEHAN' 5 cable, and anofiset from the said bar to carry Witnesses:

a lamp, substantially as set forth. 7 W. D. O. BOGGS,

In testimony WhGfGOf I have signed this ALEXANDER S. INGRAM.

